Carey Price isn't ready to return to the Montreal Canadiens' lineup just yet.

Head coach Michel Therrien refuted suggestions that his star goaltender could return next week in Tuesday's home game against the Florida Panthers or Wednesday's game against Buffalo, saying Price is not ready to practice with the team. "We're not there yet," he told reporters as the Canadiens held off-ice workouts Friday in Brossard.

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Canadiens beat writer and columnist Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette mentioned in his video blog following the Canadiens' 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday that Price could start next week for the first time since Nov. 25. 

"Not sure if it's going to be the Florida game (in Montreal on Tuesday) or the next night (Wednesday) in Buffalo, but I would expect he's going to play one of those two games," Hickey said.

Price, who has been out with a lower-body injury, admitted last week that the recovery process had taken longer than expected but said he has turned a corner in the last couple of weeks.

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"I'm pretty confident (about coming back this season)," he said. "I'm not going to make any timelines or anything like that. But as far as the way things are progressing, it's looking pretty good."

Price, 28, began wearing full equipment in practice at the end of February and took shots last week for the first time.